Method for making production tests in well drilling



G. A. MACREADY METHOD FOR MAKING PRODUCTION TESTS IN WELL DRILLING Original Filled Ju1.v25, 1922 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGEXA. IVLAREADY, F LOS ANGELES,'CALIFORNIA.

l METHOD FOR MAKING PRODUCTION TESTS IN WELL DRILLING.

Griginal application led July 25, l1 922, Serial No. 577,433.A Divided and this application led August 2,

1923. Serial No. 655,205.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MACREADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los IAngeles 6 and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Method for Making Production Tests in Well Drilling, of which the following is a specification. y This is a division of my application 10 Serial No. 577,433, filed July 25, 1922, lfor vapparatus and method for making production tests in deep well drilling.

This invention relates to an improved method for facilitating the making of production tests of the lower'portions of deep wells so as to determine the proper point at -which the well is to be sealed off so as to out off water from above the oil bearing strata.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for shutting off water and for maintaining a circulation in a deep well preparatory to and while making a.

production test so as to insure the recovery of the apparatus utilized by keeping it from being frozen in the well or jammed.

further object is to maintain a circulation in a well and apparatus and-at the same y time rotate a portion of the apparatus during the production test. Another object is to provide for the washing ofthe well byl introducing clean water during the lowering of the testing apparatus utilized to a 'previously formed packer seat.

An object is to provide for the removal of the washings from the well during the lowering of the packer by passing the washings between inner and outer pipes ofthe apparatus to prevent scouring of the wall of 40 the well above the packer and effect rotation of the outer pipe while the washing circulation is maintained. It is, therefore,broadly,

an object of the invention to provide a Washing circulation in which the discharge waterfrom the well passes up in through' the` apparatus and not directly along the well wall.

lAnother object is to provide a method for facilitating production tests and for aiding in determining the permanent sealing zone and for maintaining circulation, and to provide for maintaining, by rotation, a free circulating pipe whereby the packer may be recovered after performance of function.

Other objects and advantages will be,

Ruesgagp made manifest in the following speel of the preferred.- method comprising the present invention as effected by apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, vertical, longitudinal section of the apparatus in the step of being lowered to a temporary sealing position. l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the apparatus in its effective sealing-and circulation maintaining position.

The present method may be practiced and effected by an apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings including a string of pipes and a packing section at the. foot thereof and a swivel case at the head thereof, the pipes of which are capable ofbeing bodily lowered, excepting at the swivel top mechanism, into the well ,casing 2, of suitable diameter, and at the top of which is a stufling box 3, Figure/1, surrounding an outer pipe 4 of such-diameter as to form a suitably sized cylindrical passageway within the casing 2. ,S0

The syvivel case 5 is provided with an open upper end and forms a suitable chamber 10 which is closed as by a retaining cap 11 mounted on the rim of case 5. This latter is shown as provided with diametrically opposite trunnions 13 to be engaged by any suitable elevating and susp nding means for such period of time as ma` be necessary in lowering the apparatus into the well hole after which the case 5 is lowered to a suitable support, as for instance a set of supporting beams 14, Figure 2. This enables the throwing 'of the elevating mechanism of the string out of connection and facilitates the application of other appurtenances, as for instance to connect a small swivel of circulating pipes to the top of an inner pipe 15. vThis also provides for the step of bailing the well through the inner pipe 15 when the swivel case 5 is stationaryv on a permanent support.

A form of mechanical construction vproviding for the rotation of the 'top pipe section 4 includes an annular shoulder 4%,J pro. vided on this top section.

Circulation into and from the swivel case chamber 10 is provided by any suitable connection as a lateral coupling 21 which may be connected to the circulation pumps or otherwise as may be necessary so that water 110 can be forced down "in the outer pipe 4 or can flow up through the outer pipe 4.

The head pipe section 15 is of suciently small diameter to provide an ample passageway 25 within the pipe section 4.

The inner string of pipe 15 includes a foot section of hollow spindle 33. The Vhollow spindle passes down and rotatably iits in the bearing sleeve 30. The packer body 37 has an eective packing exterior lower portion which is preferably taperedso as to form'a good seal upon a previously cutseat prepared therefor in the well hole.

From the above it will be seen that when the elevating and suspending bail device, B, Fig. 1, isattached to the swivel case trunnion 13, the whole string of inner and outer pipes 15 and 4 are carried by the casing swivel and the outer pipe is adapted to be rotated yby the usual rotary table R of a. rotary drill-v ing apparatus. While the string of'packer elements are being lowered into the well, rotation can be maintained by the rotary table R of the outer pipe 4, lwhile `the inner pipe and the packer attached to the packing spindle 33 thereof being connected by a swivel joint at the bottom of the string in the bearing does not rotate. During the lowering of the string, circulation is maintained by a flow of circulation fluid entering the topI of the inner pipe 15, thence down to the bottom of the inner pipe where it discharges freely into the well and passes up to the surface thereby preventing the pipe from sticking. Just before seating of the. pac-ker, circulation is maintained as by a flow i oof water entering' the top of the inner pipe 15, and thence down to the bottom-of the inner pipe where it discharges freely into the well and passes 'up outside of the lower inner pipe and arouend the packer 37 as is shown in Fig, 1, and thence up until the water may find access into the outer pipe 4. This access and escape from the well hole is provided by a series of apertures-4a in the lowermost section of the pipe 4 just aboveI the foot swivel and bearing memberl 33.` The stuliing box 3 being closed, prevents the water from `going up outside of pipe 4 thereb v avoiding scouring the'walls of the hole.r The upwardly ilowing water passes freely into the space between the inner pipe 15 and the outer pipe 4 and thus does not rise along thc well wall and the scouring of the wall is prevented above the packer.VK "The water en' termg the pipe 4 passes to the top-"thereof and escapes Jthrough the lateral connection 21 as indicated in Fig. 1. Whenthepcking string has `been lowered to the necessary position, the packing facing 40 vengages the seat S provided therefor in the well hole and becomes fixed. and solidly seated and is held against rotation upon the seat or by thc interlocking of the holding prongs 41 engaging in the wall. As soon as the packer has become seated, it will be seen that upflow from below is prevented except through the innermost or central pipe 15. This is open continuously from top to bottom and pro-vides for the bailing of the bottom of the well and for such other steps as may be taken in the production test.

v l'Vhen the packer is seated, mud circulation may be maintained from the pump systemiby fxorcing the Huid into port 21 of the swivel case at the head of the well wall when this is seated on its permanent supports 14.

` The iiuid is forced down through the space between the inside pipe 15 and the outside pipe 4 and discharges outwardly through the openings 4a and passes upwardly along thesurface o f the well and plasters the wall above the packer. This fluid circulation prevents the pipe sticking'or freezing tothewa-lls of 1thewell. The upwardlyvlowing vcirculating mud is discharged through the well casing at the head of the well.

It will be seen also that the weight of the columns of pipes upon the seated packer can be readily regulated by the amount of weight of the swivel head and-apparatus that is superimposed on the permanent sup- :ports 1.4uponl which theswivel case is low- .ered after the packer han become seated.

The advantage of this is that considerable strain is removedfrom the packer and also ,from the string of. pipe'sections and their joints throu hout the strin This met 10d provides `'or the constant motion'of the outer pipe string 4 while it is being lowered into the hole and after the packenhas` become firmly seated and provides also for the downwardv or upward circulationy or flow of liquid in the space bctwecn the two pi and also between the outer pipe and well wall, and all of this with the object of insuring the possibility of recovering the apparatus from the well.

Furthera embodiments, modifications and Variations may be resorted to within the principle of the invention.

^ What is claimed is:

1. A method for making production tests in drilled wells before permanently sealing the well which' consists 1n lowering a packer v into the well to engage a previously formed seat, and maintaining a circulation of clean water down through. the packer apparatus and up through the lower portion of the Welland into the packer apparatus and to wash mud from well wall below the packer.

2.. A method 4for making production tests in drilledl wells before permanently sealing the well which consists in lowering a acker into the well to engage a previously ormed sea-t,A maintaining a circulationV of clean water down through the packer' apparatus and up through Vthe lower portion ofthe well and into the packer apparatus to was'h mud from the-well wall below the vpacker esv 'without scouring the wall of the Well above the packer, and constantly moving parts of the packer apparatus while the circulation is being maintained. l

A method for making production tests in drilled wells before permanently sealing the well which consists in lowering a packer into the well to engageJa previously formed seat, and maintaining a circulationof clean water down through the center of the' packer apparatus and up through the lower portion of the well and into the packer apparatus to facilitate insert-ion of the apparatus without. scouring the wall ot' the well above the packer.

l. A method for making production tests in drilled wells before permanently sealing the well which consists in lowering a packer into the well to engage a previously formed seat, and maintaining a circulation of clean water down through one channel of the packer apparatus and up through the lower portion of the well and into channels of the packer apparatus.

5. In a well drilling process, sealing a drilled well by a removable packer apparatus and maintaining :i circulation in and out of the apparatus after the packer is placed upon a seat therefor in the well. o

6. In a well drilling process, sealing' a deep well by a -removable packer apparatus,v

constantly moving elements of the packerA while the latter is stationary on its seat to prevent the outer elements from freezing in the well, and maintaining al circulation in the packer apparatus yabove the packer so as to plaster the wall of the well above the stationary packer.

7. In a well drilling process, inserting a packing and hailing apparatus in a drilled hole and resting a head part of it stationarily upon a previously formed seat, moving a part of the packer apparatus Vwhile-the packer head is stationary on said seat, maintaining a circulation in the apparatus about the packer, and bailing from below I into the well to engage a previously formed seat, maintaining a circulation of clean water down through the packer and up through the lower portion of the well and into the packer to wash mud from the well wall without scouring the wall of the well above the packer, and rotating an outer part of the packer.

9. A method for making production tests in drilled wells before permanently sealing the well which consists in lowering 'a packer apparatus into the well 'to` engage a previously formed seat, maintaining a circulation of clean Water down through the packer apparatus and up through the lower portion of the well and into the packer. apparatus, and rotating an outer part independently of the seated part4 of the pac-ker apparatus.

'10. In well drilling process, lowering a removable packer into 'a well to engage a previously formed seatto seal the well, maintaining circulation above the seated packer and maintaining motion on the means used for lowering the packer above the packer while the packer is stationary on its seat, thereby preventing said means from sticking and facilitatino recovery of the apparatus, and drawing fluid from below the packer to the surface.

1l.. ln a well drilling process, sealing a drilled well by a removable packer apparatus and maintaining a circulation in and out of the apparatus after the packer is placed upon a seat therefor in the well, and constantly moving parts of the apparatus to prevent sticking.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE A. MACREADY. 

